1. Persuasive Writing
5th Grade

2. Persuasive Writing
Persuasive writing is writing that tries to convince a reader to do something or to believe what you believe about a certain topic.
It takes a position for or against something.

4. Persuasive Writing can be used to…
Purpose
Support a cause
Urge people to action
Make a change
Prove something wrong
Persuasive Statement
“Please support my football team by buying discount coupons.”
“Vote for Sarah!”
“The principal should let us wear hats.”
“The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine was not the only reason America declared war on Spain.”

5. Persuasive Writing can be used to…
Purpose
Stir up sympathy
Create interest
Get people to agree with you
Persuasive Statement
“If you don’t adopt this dog, it could have to live in a shelter.”
“Better grades get you a better job and more money.”
“I am sure you’ll agree that Milky Way is the best candy bar.”

6. Persuasive writing follows a certain format:
INTRODUCTION with a “hook” and thesis statement
BODY where the argument is explained
CONCLUSION where main points are summarized and reviewed and the reader is left with something to think about.

7. First…Know Your Audience…
Before you start writing, you should know your audience:
Who will read your writing? Who do you need to convince?
The audience may be your friends, your teacher, your parents, your principal, the readers of a newspaper or the President of the United States!
Will you be graded? On What?
Should you be casual or professional?

8. Second… Pick a side!
The writer must clearly state his/her position and stay with that position. Pick a side!
The position is stated in the opening paragraph or introduction.

9. Three: Do Your Research…
In order to convince the reader you need more than just an opinion; you need facts or examples to back your opinion. So, be sure to do the research!
Walsh Publishing Co. 2009

10. Four: MAKE A PLAN, then write!
The 6 Paragraph Essay:
1. Introduction/Hook/Thesis
2. Argument 1 with support
3. Argument 2 with support
4. Argument 3 with support
5. Conclusion

11. DOS and DON’Ts of Persuasive Writing:
Divide into 5 paragraphs
Have a thesis statement in your introduction
Come up with 3 main points to support your argument—these will be your 3 body paragraphs
Have a conclusion that has a “clincher statement”
Don’t :
Don’t begin with “Hello my name is___ and I’m going to write about____”
Don’t use the word “I “ (Instead of “I think we shouldn’t wear uniforms” say “Uniforms shouldn’t be required.”
Don’t be wishy-washy. Pick a side!
Don’t forget to support your opinions with facts and explanations

12. The Great Introduction…
What makes an good introduction?
It grabs or “hooks” the reader’s attention by using one or more of the following strategies:
An anecdote or scenario
A quotation
An interesting fact or statistic
A question
It tells how the writing will be organized.
put your reasons in the introduction in the same order that they will be written.
The author’s position is clearly stated in the thesis statement.
[Claim] because [reason 1], [reason 2], and [reason 3].

13. Grabbing Your Audience…
Good strategies used in introductions:
Use an Anecdote/ Scenario
The writer provides a personal experience or made-up situation to introduce the position.
Questioning
The writer asks thought-provoking questions to capture the reader’s interest.
Interesting fact or statistic
The writer gives an interesting piece of information to grab the reader’s attention.
Lets Take A Look….

14. You Could Begin with a Strong Statement:
Example:
Fast food consumption has risen 500 percent since 1970 and today reaches nearly every part of society, including some public school cafeterias.

15. You Could Open with a Quotation:
Example:
University of Delaware professor states:
“Advertising, including television ads, billboards, and other advertising,
including toys in boxed meals, has had an effect upon children as never before.
Children these days are growing up with low concern for their health and
more concern for what tastes good.”

16. You Could Open with a interesting fact:
Example:
“Did you know that a typical child needs 2,000 calories for an entire day and Burger King’s Whopper with triple cheese has 1,230 calories?”

17. You Could Open with an Anecdote:
An anecdote can provide an amusing and attention-getting opening if it is short and to the point.
“My hands felt sticky after pulling open the doors to “Big Bobby’s Boisterous Burger Hut”. The odor smelled of fried everything. I ordered a Big Bobby Combo #2. There was enough food to serve a small third world country on my tray. I nibbled at the ¾ pound burger and my chin was covered in a mayonnaise and ketchup concoction. I asked the server if I could have a few fries with my salt. I left the place feeling like my stomach was mad at me.”

18. You Could Open with a Fact or Statistic:
Example:
Thirty percent of the children in the survey ate fast food on any given day during the survey, and they ate an average of 187 calories a day more than those who did not eat fast food. These additional calories could account for an extra six pounds of weight gain per year, according to Ludwig.

19. Open with an Outrageous Statement:
Example:
“Fast food is killing America!”

20. Next: Creating a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is one sentence at the end of your introduction that states your opinion. It needs to be strong.
First, choose 3 main reasons to discuss in your essay. These reasons will become the focus of three paragraphs in the body of your paper.
Let’s use fast food as an example again.
Fast food…(3 Discussion Points)
rapidly increases weight
causes high blood pressure
leads to sluggishness

21. Writing the Thesis Statement
Now take your three main reasons and summarize them. Put your completed thesis statement at the end of your first paragraph.
THESIS STATEMENT
Fast food is harmful because it rapidly increases weight, causes high blood pressure, and leads to lethargy.

22. Our Introductory Paragraph:
Did you know that a typical child needs 2,000 calories for an entire day and Burger King’s Whopper with triple cheese has 1,230 calories? That is far more calories than anyone needs in one day! Fast food consumption has risen 500 percent since 1970 and today reaches nearly every part of society, including some public school cafeterias. Fast food is harmful because it rapidly increases weight, causes high blood pressure, and leads to sluggishness.
HOOK THE READER
THESIS STATEMENT
YOUR THREE ARGUMENTS
Walsh Publishing Co. 2009